Category: School
Posted by Kevin OShea on Sat, Sep 12, 2009 at 8:39 AMDads present and accounted for at school
Last night was the Ice Cream Social at my sons' elementary school. While many parents also attended the flag raising on the first day of school, the social is traditionally the first time parents have a chance to greet each other and welcome new faces after the long summer break.
We had a huge turnout of families enjoying the ice cream, popcorn, face painting, DJ and giant inflatables. I was stationed at the latter all evening, where I spent most of my time patrolling to prevent little vandals from turning off the moon bounce to enjoy the shrieks of the little ones as the roof collapsed.
I love the social because it confirms one of the great things about our school: dads are interested and involved. And even the fathers who are neither (for whatever reason) are still present. It makes a strong impression when you look across a crowd of families and see fathers everywhere. The people who notice it the most are our children. They're thrilled to have Dad along, and they absorb the message that the Ice Cream Social (or whatever event it might be) is important and their school is important, too.
Fellow dads, even in these tough times when many of us are struggling to find time for ourselves, let's commit to being present at our children's schools this year. That means being there for social events, PTA meetings, curriculum nights, open houses and (of course) parent-teacher conferences.
If some of us can also find time to be interested and involved, that's great. Whatever we can manage, it all starts with being there in the first place.
Comments
| Jump to bottom |
Present and Accounted for at School
Great post Kevin. I dropped my son off to school this morning and was taken back by the number of dads who were likewise bringing their children to school, actually outnumbering the mom's who were there dropping their children. I'll find out tomorrow how many dads attend this years first PTA meeting, hopefully more than the sporadic few who attended last year but one thing is clear to me, this is not our fathers generation of parenting; more and more dads are in the mix and our children are reaping the benefits. Numerous studies conclude that children fair significantly better in school, as well as in every other measurable way when dads participate in all of the same elements of parenting that mom's have traditionally taken responsibility for. Obviously, engaging in that part of their life that is school is highly important. We tell them, for example, that school is of primary importance and we drive the point home with expectations that they spend at least 12 years of their life attending, get good grades, take part in various school activities and we additionally mention how proud we would be if they go to college but how contradictory is our message if we follow all of that up by never even going the building?
Clearly, we need to take an equal and active part. My son, even at 6 years old has actually come to expect it; he loves that I attend field trips and gets almost as big a kick as I do to have all of his little friends recognize me as "D.J.'s dad!" He's also proud to show me his work and to have my approval / affirmation of everything he's doing. And I know, without a doubt, that witnessing the dialogue I have with his teacher helps to shape better behavior than what he would have otherwise.
| Jump to top |
